Rajasthan: Three leopard cubs caught on camera trap at Jhalana

JAIPUR: The leopard population in Jhalana reserve received a boost after three cubs of 10-year-old leopardess LK were spotted on a camera trap. This is the first litter of leopards recorded this year. However, for LK, this is the fifth litter. It has now given birth to a total of 12 cubs. Last year too, the leopardess gave birth to three cubs.
“The cubs are around 2-3 months old. We had some indication that the big cat had conceived and delivered,” said an official with the reserve.
“We have now increased monitoring. LK is an able mother not simply because she has previously given birth but for the fact that a majority of her offspring have survived,” the official said.
Last year too, the reserve saw the birth of 10 cubs. In December, leopardess Leela was spotted with two cubs, thereby becoming the sixth leopardess to give birth in the park since January 2020.
In May 2020, leopardess Jalebi was captured on camera with its cub. Similarly, leopardess Flaura was sighted with three cubs in the beginning of this year. Three other female leopards, LK, Mrs Khan and Sharmili, gave birth to cubs, resulting in an increase in young population. It is believed that the leopard count has steadily gone up in this particular forest area mainly due to efficient monitoring as well as efforts to provide a protected environment for the wildlife.
Jhalana is spread over 22sqkm area. There are four dominant males, Rambo, Bahadur, Bagheera and Sultan, in Jhalana and two, Bluethunder and Prince, in the Galta region. “At present, there are 31 leopards in the reserve. and The big cats find the environment as well as resources conducive here for delivering the litter,” the official said.